Valerio Jans was born on 30 June 1988 in Locarno. He spent his childhood in Collinasca, Cerentino.
Already at an early age he showed a distinct artistic talent.
When he was not roaming the woods with his older brother, he drew and painted a lot.
He also got interested in music: as soon as his fingers were long enough to reach the chords,
he started playing the guitar.
After completing his compulsory schooling from 1994 to 2003, he persued a little successful base year at the professional school SAMB, followd by a year at the arts and crafts school (CSIA) in Lugano. Despite sufficient grades, he had to leave the CSIA because of the numerus clasus. Anyhow, at the time he had other interests: the focus of his attention was music, in particular the foundation of a band.
Between 2005 and 2009 he completed an apprenticeship as a polygrapher at the Tipografia Stazione SA, Locarno.
During this time the first signs of schizophrenia appeared. The disease got worse and worse and the necessary drugs widely suppressed his creativity. Valerio could not accept the desperate and unbearable situation.
Suicide on September 22, 2015.
The paintings
Most of the paintings were made from 2003 to 2015. None of them bears a title and few are signed or dated. Rather than concrete, they are an expression of intense experiences and emotions.
To the attentive observer they reveal worlds characterized by dark forests, bizarre rocks and wild rivers, populated by threatening creatures or dancing luminous beings. Chaotic scenarios, in which one glimpses a search for order.
Let us try to grasp what Valerio intended to communicate with his works.